Full Breakdown
Stars Collective to Produce Mandarin Remake of Sundance Hit “Thelma”
8/18/2026, 10:54:04 AM
Core Development Deal
Stars Collective has secured the Mandarin-language remake rights to the 2024 Sundance breakout “Thelma.” The company is developing the adaptation under the working title “Grandma, Please.” In the new version, an 80-year-old grandmother is defrauded by a scammer who uses artificial-intelligence to clone her late husband’s voice. Rather than involve police or worry her children, she embarks on a personal investigation that reunites her with a former basketball-team captain—now a care-home resident—leading to a comedic road-trip with emotional moments.
Background of the Original Film
“Thelma,” written and directed by Josh Margolin and produced by Zurich Avenue and Bandwagon, premiered at Sundance in 2024 and became Magnolia Pictures’ highest-grossing narrative feature in the United States. The film starred a then-93-year-old June Squibb as the titular character, with Parker Posey as her uptight daughter and Fred Hechinger as her grandson. Its intergenerational comedy-action blend resonated with audiences and generated strong box-office returns for Magnolia.
Key Figures and Production Plans
Luo will also produce alongside Stars Collective Co-CEO Nancy Xu and producer Wayne Wei Jiang, whose credits include “The Meg.” Stars Collective, founded in 2020 by Luo, operates in Los Angeles, China, and Japan and currently holds more than 60 original IPs in development. Production on “Grandma, Please” is slated to begin in the second half of 2027.
Official Outlook and Expected Impact
Luo indicated that the original film’s appeal “played intergenerationally,” and he believes the remake will similarly attract viewers of all ages while delivering a message of agency for seniors. Xu emphasized that senior-led stories such as “Thelma” have driven recent global box-office surprises and that “Grandma, Please” combines a fun genre premise with social relevance, positioning it for strong commercial performance.
Company Context and Future Initiatives
Beyond this project, Stars Collective’s recent productions include “The Monkey” and “Playland.” The company holds a 25-year exclusive merchandising license for “The Garfield Movie” in Greater China and is developing a nonfiction adaptation of “Fortunate Sons.” It is also building a studio focused on generative-AI technology to connect Hollywood filmmakers with emerging AI tools.
